Montee Ball Wins Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year Award

The Big Ten announced the winner of its four major regular-season awards today, and Wisconsin running back Montee Ball took home the Offensive Player of the Year award. It was largely believed to be a two-horse race between Ball and teammate Russell Wilson, and there was even talk of the two splitting the award. In the end, Ball’s record-setting year pushed him over the top. The award is well deserved for one of the best seasons by a running back in Wisconsin, Big Ten, and even NCAA history.

Personally, I loved the idea of splitting the award between Ball and Wilson. Both players owe a lot of their success to the other. Even as a purely symbolic gesture, claiming both the Offensive POYs in the same backfield would have been quite the honor for Wisconsin. I suppose if Wilson wants a trophy, he’ll have to settle for the Big Ten Championship trophy, or maybe the Rose Bowl.

Also receiving top honors were Penn State defensive tackle Devon Still (Defensive POY), Ohio State QB Braxton Miller (Freshman of the Year) and Michigan head coach Brady Hoke, who led a greatly improved Michigan team that featured one of the best defenses in the country.

Tags: Big Ten Awards